The gallery in an Old Trafford ginnel that takes street art quite literally

An Old Trafford ginnel has been transformed into one of Manchester’s more unlikely art galleries.

The Back Gallery is a collection of artworks displayed in the alleys between Stamford Street and Albion Street, and Albion Street and Premier Street, both behind Ayres Road.

The brainchild of OT Creative Space, the gallery currently displays 125 works of art submitted by 80 artists – a mix of professional artists and local residents of all ages – curated into 13 different collections across the alleys.

Lynda Sterling is the founder of OT Creative Space. She came up with the idea for the Back Gallery to combat fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour, speaking about the exhibition, she said: “We wanted to make the alleyways of Old Trafford a welcome space where the community can come together to view great artwork,” she says.

The works on display in the Back Gallery have been printed onto vinyl and mounted on the brick walls of the back alleys. The original artworks – some of which are on display in the window of OT Creative Space on Ayres Road – feature a wide range of styles and mediums, including watercolours, prints, acrylic on canvas, digital art, photography, embroidery and even cardboard sculptures.

For gallery viewers who are inspired to get creative, there are free, family-friendly art workshops held in the Back Gallery on the first Saturday of every month, with the chance of the art created during the sessions displayed in the gallery.

For more information, visit the OT Creative website.

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